Esoteric Ancient Tarots

A very unusual and historically significant deck, these cards were designed in 1870 by occultist Francoise Alliette, known in esoteric circles as Etteilla (Alliette spelled backwards). Etteilla, an established fortune teller, was one of the first to popularize the use of Tarot for divination and the practice of interpreting reversed cards. The familiar suits-wands, cups, swords, and coins-each include the traditional court cards and pips. Reflecting Etteilla's proclivity for Egyptian culture and the pre-Revolutionary period in France, the art is a striking blend of Classical and Egyptian elements. Reflective of the divinatory style of the era, each card is labeled with a key word for both upright and reversed meanings.